Greenlight not looking for power

I thought the Pilot editorial on Sunday, “Watching Greenlight,”

was fair and asked interesting questions. I will speak for myself as

a Greenlight committee member, and I think my thoughts reflect those

of other steering committee members.

My potential power is nonexistent. I would never ask any candidate

that Greenlight supports to vote a certain way on any issue. I would

not support a candidate who did not endorse the concept of

Greenlight. All candidates endorsed by Greenlight are independent

candidates. It was only after they decided to run for City Council

that the Greenlight steering committee interviewed and supported a

candidate.

Take City Council candidate Richard Taylor. The Airport Working

Group political action committee asked him to run. He agreed, and his

hat was thrown in the race, and Greenlight is proud to support him.

Believe me, his is not a “one-issue candidate” as stated in the Daily

Pilot. He runs his own business, belongs to community and service

groups and has his ear to the ground on citywide issues.

While serving on the City Council for 16 years, I had many

opportunities to appoint planning commissioners or other

commissioners. I never asked them for a vote (check with any of

them). After I went off the council, I never asked a council member

for a vote. Naturally, I feel strongly about Greenlight and I did try

to explain what it was about to a couple council members, but as we

all know, the City Council never supported Greenlight.

Along with the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and developers,

the Pilot has a history of endorsing candidates. Perhaps the Pilot is

out of tune with the residents. After all, the residents are the ones

who elect their council members. I think it is time to elect at least

50% of the council to represent the residents.

EVELYN HART

Newport Beach

* Editor’s note: Evelyn Hart is a former Newport Beach mayor and

now a member of the Greenlight committee.